ISS – Page 29 – Our Awesome Universe

NASA Had a Busy Year

Posted on December 26, 2023December 26, 2023 by onespaceman2000

^{Image (Credit): The introduction of the Artemis II crew, just one of many items highlighted in NASA’s new video summarizing 2023. (NASA)}

This is the time of year for lists, so I wanted to highlight one of the more important lists, at least in the opinion of this writer. That’s right, we need to remember the important space milestones from this year.

Fortunately, NASA recently summed up its successes in 2023 with a new video titled NASA 2023: Nothing is Beyond Our Reach. The video highlights many of the Agency’s accomplishments this year, including the launch of the Psyche mission, the announcement of a crew for the Artemis II mission, and the OSIRIS-REx capsule retrieval.

It is quite a list. Luckily, NASA provided a list of links so you can read more about the various efforts:

OSIRIS-REx: https://go.nasa.gov/41h1xWJ
James Webb Space Telescope: https://go.nasa.gov/3uY0u1V
Psyche: https://go.nasa.gov/3uVtcQZ
Nuclear Propulsion: https://go.nasa.gov/3uVtcQZ
International Partnerships: https://go.nasa.gov/47UUKV2 (PDF)
Earth Observations: https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/
Earth Information Center: https://go.nasa.gov/3Rc1GG8
Sustainable Flight Demonstrator: https://go.nasa.gov/46WqY0Q
International Space Station 25 Years in Low Earth Orbit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY2Zn1cKExY&t=0s
25 Years of the International Space Station
Frank Rubio Record: https://go.nasa.gov/41nyGjI
International Science Missions: https://go.nasa.gov/3TgZ1he
First Woman Issue #2: https://www.nasa.gov/calliefirst/
NASA+: https://plus.nasa.gov/
Moon to Mars Architecture: https://go.nasa.gov/4ahH7Rl
Artemis III Spacesuit Prototype: https://go.nasa.gov/4719ArL
Space Launch System Hardware Production: https://go.nasa.gov/41hwYQM
RS-25 Tests: https://go.nasa.gov/3RkhF59
Engines Installed: https://go.nasa.gov/47ROoWI
Orion Production: https://go.nasa.gov/41jHxCK
Artemis II Crew Announced: https://go.nasa.gov/3Rc20EQ

Time to read up on 2023 before we dive into more activities in 2024.

Note: You can read a more detailed list of accomplishments at this NASA site.

Holiday Wishes from the Crew on the ISS

Posted on December 25, 2023 by onespaceman2000

^{Image (Credit): Expedition 70 astronauts from left: Andreas Mogensen of ESA, Jasmin Moghbeli of NASA, Satoshi Furukawa of JAXA,and Loral O’Hara of NASA. (NASA)}

You can watch a holiday video from International Space Station astronauts associated with three space programs provide greetings in three languages. They are away from family during the holidays, yet on the job to keep our space program going.

Happy Hanukkah from the ISS

Posted on December 8, 2023 by onespaceman2000

^{Image (Credit): Hanukkah display on the ISS. (NASA)}

Astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli did her part to celebrate the Hanukkah holiday while on board the International Space Station (ISS). The Iranian-American NASA astronaut created the window display shown above as well as a video of a spinning dreidel.

In the ABC7 story accompanying the video, Ms. Moghbeli stated:

In my household, we celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah so I’ve brought some items for both to celebrate with my family.

I challenge anyone here on Earth to match this window display. It is out of this world.

Pic of the Week: Progress 86 Approaches the ISS

Posted on December 7, 2023December 7, 2023 by onespaceman2000

^{Image (Credit): The Progress 86 resupply ship approaches the ISS. (NASA)}

This week’s image shows the Roscosmos Progress 86 cargo craft approaching the International Space Station (ISS) last Sunday with three tons of needed supplies. The space craft almost appears to be performing ballet. I expect everyone one on board the station was happy to see it arriving, hopefully loaded with some holiday treats.

The Russian cargo craft needed to be guided in manually by cosmonauts after the auto system failed. Backup systems are great, but fully functioning space systems are better. I guess the Russians got some practice that day.

A Day in Astronomy: First Operation of the International Space Station

Posted on December 6, 2023 by onespaceman2000

^{Image (Credit): The ISS’s Zarya module (in the image bottom to center). (NASA)}

On this day in 1998, two modules, the Russian Zarya and American Unity, were joined in Earth orbit to create the International Space Station (ISS).

The ISS was built by five space agencies involving 15 nations. NASA notes that 273 people from 21 countries have visited the ISS over the years to assist with more than 3,300 research and educational investigations. The station has been busy, and pretty expensive at more than $150 billion to design and build.

Back in 2012, Astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson stated:

If the United States commits to the goal of reaching Mars, it will almost certainly do so in reaction to the progress of other nations – as was the case with NASA, the Apollo program, and the project that became the International Space Station.

Eleven years later, the ISS continues to orbit the Earth while plans are still being made to return to the Moon and visit Mars. Maybe Dr. Tyson was right given our current race with China to the Moon. We sometimes need that extra push to move towards the stars (as least in terms of crewed flights).